Lindy Klim and Olivia Molly Rogers stole the show as they lead celebrity arrivals to Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne on Saturday.
The model, 45, looked every inch the Balinese Princess she is as she arrived at the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival kickoff event wearing a gold crown.
She opted for an all-black look with a cropped jacket over a very form-fitting dress that highlighted her athletic figure.
The former catwalk star carried a designer handbag and accessorised with a single gold ring as she slicked her dark locks back beneath her crown.
Meanwhile, Olivia, 32, looked angelic in an all-white dress which featured a strapless neckline and floral fixtures.
The former Miss Universe Australia let her genetically blessed features do all the talking as she slicked her dark locks back with a chunky white fascinator headband.
She opted for a very glamorous makeup look with a smoky eye and glossy nude lip as she carried a small white clutch in hand.
Samantha Armytage looked stunning in her own duo-chrome ensemble.
Lindy Klim, 45, (left) and Olivia Molly Rogers, 32, (right) stole the show as they lead celebrity arrivals to Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne on Saturday
The former Farmer Wants A Wife host, 48, opted for a conservative maxi dress which featured a white collar and short sleeves.
A black belt cinched in the former Sunrise star’s waist as she carried a white designer bag in hand.
Her blonde tresses were meticulously straightened and tucked behind her ears beneath the white fascinator she wore, which perfectly matched her flats.
Newly engaged couple Josh Daicos and Annalise Dalins also made an appearance at the races, garbed in matching monochrome looks.
The model looked every inch the Balinese Princess she is as she arrived at the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival kickoff event wearing a gold crown
She opted for an all-black look with a cropped jacket over a very form-fitting dress that highlighted her athletic figure
Lindy’s model daughter Stella, 18, (right) also made an appearance at the event, looking every inch the mirror image of her mother in an all-black outfit
The AFL WAG, 23, was all smiles as she donned a wide-brimmed fascinator with intricate cutouts.
Posing up a storm for the cameras, the social media star slipped her figure into a white halter neck dress as she carried a black handbag over her shoulder.
Rocking a natural makeup look, she elevated her ensemble with several pieces of staple gold jewellery.
Elsewhere, Tayla Broad (née Damir) opted for an all-black look instead as she hid her eyes behind a pair of dark sunglasses.
The former Love Island star, 27, put on a leggy display in a short halter neck dress which featured a plunging neckline.
Meanwhile, Olivia looked angelic in an all-white dress which featured a strapless neckline and floral fixtures
The former Miss Universe Australia let her genetically blessed features do all the talking as she slicked her dark locks back with a chunky white fascinator headband
She opted for a very glamorous makeup look with a smoky eye and glossy nude lip as she carried a small white clutch in hand
Samantha Armytage, 48, (pictured) looked stunning in her own duo-chrome ensemble
The former Farmer Wants A Wife host opted for a conservative maxi dress which featured a white collar and short sleeves
A black belt cinched in the former Sunrise star’s waist as she carried a white designer bag in hand
Rocking a very natural makeup look, the model practiced sun safety with a wide-brimmed black hat, curling her brunette tresses into soft waves down her back.
Tayla kept her accessories to a minimum as she carried a silver clutch in hand and a matching chunky bracelet.
Races veteran Kate Waterhouse put on a stunning display as she stepped out with a wide-brimmed white fascinator tilted atop her head.
The journalist, 40, who is the daughter of horse trainer Gai Waterhouse, slipped into a white dress covered in swinging tassels for the occasion.
She flaunted her massive diamond wedding ring as she opted for a natural makeup look.
Newly engaged couple Josh Daicos, 25, (left) and Annalise Dalins, 23, (right) also made an appearance at the races, garbed in matching monochrome looks
The AFL WAG was all smiles as she donned a wide-brimmed fascinator with intricate cutouts
Posing up a storm for the cameras, the social media star slipped her figure into a white halter neck dress as she carried a black handbag over her shoulder
Rocking a natural makeup look, she elevated her ensemble with several pieces of staple gold jewellery
Channel Nine star Francesca Cumani also made a stunning arrival during the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival kickoff event.
The presenter, 41, turned heads in an off-the-shoulder A-line dress which gave her a beautifully classic silhouette.
Her Rebecca Vallance frock followed the black and white theme perfectly as it featured a stunning white bust which draped down into long black skirts.
Francesca accessorised with simple black pumps and pearl earrings as she donned a rounded white fascinator with a black bow.
The brunette beauty tucked her tresses behind her ears and slicked on a bold red lip to elevate her opulent look.
The horse racing presenter was all smiles as she prepared for the week ahead, opting for a baby pink manicure and a silver bracelet to complete her ensemble.
Elsewhere, Tayla Broad (née Damir), 27, (pictured) opted for an all-black look instead as she hid her eyes behind a pair of dark sunglasses
The former Love Island star put on a leggy display in a short halter neck dress which featured a plunging neckline
Races veteran Kate Waterhouse, 40, (pictured) put on a stunning display as she stepped out with a wide-brimmed white fascinator tilted atop her head
The journalist who is the daughter of horse trainer Gai Waterhouse, slipped into a white dress covered in swinging tassels for the occasion
She flaunted her massive diamond wedding ring as she opted for a natural makeup look
Channel Nine star Francesca Cumani, 41, (pictured) also made a stunning arrival during the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival kickoff event
The presenter turned heads in an off-the-shoulder A-line dress which gave her a beautifully classic silhouette
Francesca was seen posing with fellow Nine commentators David Gately, James Bracey, Grace Ramage and Tony Jones. All pictured
Derby Day’s history begins across the pond more than two centuries ago in 1787 when the Earl of Derby’s horse won the race while wearing black and white colours.
In 1910, King Edward died and in true Edwardian fashion racegoers swapped out their best clothes for black, the colour traditionally associated with mourning.
‘The women wore white flowers or pearls,’ celebrity stylist Donny Galella told NewsWire.
The story suggests this is where the black and white dress theme for Derby Day began.
However, it’s entirely possible our penchant for black and white dressing on race day kickoff actually started with a humble advertisement.
That’s right, an advertisement found in a 1960 copy of Australian Women’s Weekly may have truly fast-tracked our strict black and white dress code for Derby Day.
At the time, Melbourne Cup attendees were offered a chance to win a £200 wardrobe prize (worth more than AUD$7,000 today) for best dressed.
The catch was that participants had to wear black and white to celebrate the Black & White whiskey manufactured by collaborator James Buchanan and Co.
The trend soon became a staple for Derby Day, with punters sticking to the duo-chrome colour palette for decades.
While Derby Day may be the strictest of all dress codes, it’s far from the only event during the spring racing carnival with a theme.
Triple M Perth star Brittany Taylor opted for an all-white look with a large bow at her back
VRC Ambassador Crystal Kimber-Peters slipped into a loose black frock
Former Melbourne Cup Carnival Ambassador Demi Brereton put on a leggy display in a short white dress
Melbourne Cup is all about bright colours and patterns while Oaks Day, also known as Ladies’ Day, encourages women to wear ‘all things feminine’.
The final day of the week, Stakes Day, is far more relaxed, and while some rules are in place, it’s nothing compared with the kick-off event of the season.
The Melbourne Cup, the race that stops a nation (at least in Victoria), is one of the most fashionable of the year. This is where Fashions on the Field comes into play.
First established in 1960, Fashions on the Field rewards the best-dressed punter with a prize, prompting racegoers to wear their boldest, most fabulous outfits.
‘Between black and white for Derby, the Melbourne Cup is the opposite,’ Mr Galella laughed.
This means wearing ‘bright, vibrant colours’ to celebrate spring and taking a step out of your comfort zone with your outfit.
Fashion trends may have changed over the decades, but the love of bright colours and patterns has stayed persistent during Melbourne Cup.
More to come.